Dorset County Council move to secure £4.7million investment of social care in Bridport (From Dorset Echo)

Dorset County Council move to secure £4.7million investment of social care in Bridport

2:00pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News

Dorset County Council has moved to allay fears over the future of social care facilities in Bridport.

The council’s Cabinet will tomorrow be asked to approve an investment of £4.7million in the town over the next four years.

Concerns were raised after the county adult and community services overview committee said last month that some of the buildings in Bridport – such as the those housing the Oh Crumbs Café staffed by people with learning disabilities, Bridport Special Education Centre and the Fisherman’s Arms day care centre – could be surplus to requirements in the future.

The council has reviewed of all its buildings and thinks services would be cheaper and better by having all the services in one place.

If the cabinet agrees there will then be community consultation later in the year.

Coun Hilary Cox, cabinet member for community services at Dorset County Council, said: “I would like to make it clear that we are looking to improve, not close services.

“If agreed, the capital investment will help us look at how we can make best use of our buildings.

“One of the options is to develop a community hub which would provide the day services the local community need in an accessible location.

“By looking at all our premises together in the round we hope to provide this. However, the proposals are still in very early stages and will take some time to develop.”

The proposals being discussed today do not include Sidney Gale residential home, which is being looked at as part of the residential care review across the whole of Dorset.

Estimates are that it would cost £14million to replace it.